Hydrant



Nov 27, 1928. *l

' T. RrrcHlE ET A1.

HYDRANT Filed Marchl 4, 1927 as l Patented Nov. 27, 192s.

UNITE-u srAres v THOMAS nrrcnrn AND ROBERT H. nrTcHE, or osKALoosA,roWA.

HYDRANT.

Our invention relates to hydrant-sof the general type, which include avalve adapted to be set below the frost line in the ground and means foroperating the valve from above the ground. l

' lt is the object of our invention to provide in such a hydrant a novelvalve ycasing and valve and lvalve stem structure combined with apipeleading to a discharge pipe and 10 to provide a valve operating means,the parts being-so arranged that the lvalve may be operated above theground in a simple and effective way. l

One'of the purposes of our invention is to l5 provide a novel valveeasing and valve provided with drainage means, such that when the valveis closed, the pipe abo-veit will readily drain, the parts being soarranged that when the valve is opened, thel drainage passages areautomatically closed by the valve.

Another object is to provide such a 'structure in which the valve vandstem may be readily drawn out without interfering with the'valve casing.l

Aspecial object of our' invention 1s to provide a valve and valve stemoperating mechanism of simple andl efficient structure,

Vwhereby the valve stemmaybe raised and lowered vertically withoutbinding.

' AAnother object in this connection is to provide an operating leverand parts 'so' arranged lthat when the valve is'closed, the parts willbe locked in position for maintaining the valve closed. l f

i vention is to provide a very simple structure which affords accurateand easy adjustment of the parts at a point above the ground forinsuring the proper seating of the valve.

Withthese and otherobjeets-in view, our invention consists in theconstruction, arrangement and combination of the various parts of ourhydrant,`whereby the objects contemplated are attained, as hereinaftermore fully set forth, pointed out in our claims, and illustrated in theaccompanying drawings, in which: Y l

Figure 1 is a side elevationof a hydrant embodying our invention.

YFigure 2 is a vertical,- sectional view 2D through the same.

'Figure 3 is a vertical, sectional lview of the hydrant, showing theparts in a different position from that illustrated in Figure 2.

Figure 4 is a transverse, sectional view Still a further purpose of ourpresentin- A water supply pipe 14 is illustrated as l connected with thelower end of the valve casing 16 set below the frost line. This valvecasing 16 is shown in Figures 1, 2 and 3 and comprises a substantiallytubular member having a bore 18 extending longitudinally through it. Thelower end of the valve easing 16 is internally screw-threaded as at 20to receive the end of the supply pipe'14.

The upper end of the easing 16 is internally screw-threaded as at 22 toreceive the lower end of the water conducting pipe 24 leading upwardthroughA theground to thedischarge spout. Y

In the lower part of the valve casing 16 is an annular valve seat 24. Avalve 26 of'any suitable material, preferably rubber, is slidablymounted inthe casing 16 in such manner asto coact with the seat 24. Thevalve 26 is preferably mounted on the lower end of a valve stem oroperating ro'd. 28, which extendsr through the valve as shown `in Figure3. The lower end of the-stem or rod28 is screw-threaded as at 30 andyreceives a small nut 32 below the valve and a nut 34 above the valve,whereby the `valve'is held properly located on the stem. V V

V,The bore 18 is of less diameter than the threaded portions 20 and 22.'f V On the -interior of the casing 16, we providea plurality ofverticalgrooves 36, which extend from the seat 24C upwardly to the threadedportion 22. Thus whenv the valve 26 is raised olf-its seat 241, watermay flow from the pipe 14:' past the seat 24e-.and upwardly through thegrooves 36. i

yThe casing 16 is provided with a plurality of transverse drainage holes38 alternating withithe grooves 36 and arranged ina serieshorizontallyaround the casing at such a height-that when the valvel 26is seated, it

"clears'the drainage holes 38, but when the valve is raised, it closesthese drainage holes.

passage of a substantial volume of water when the valve is unseated.

At the upper end ot the pipe 14 is mount.

ed'a spout fixture, indicated generally at A, having the tubular portion40 into which the upper end ci the pipe 14 is screwed as at 42 andhaving the spout 44.

Projecting from the tubular portion 40, preferably on the side oppositethe spout, we providea pair of lugs or ears 46. Mounted in the ears 46is a pin 48 on which is'eccentrically, rotatably mounted a disc 50having at its ends circumferential rabbets 52.

Formed on the disc is a handle 54.

A pair et parallel arms 56 are provided at their lower ends with annularholes 58 to receive the sides oit the disc 50, whereby the Vas shown inFigure 2. vA rocking arms 56 are rotatably mounted on the disc 50between the ears 46. Y

The stem or rodl 28 extends upwardly through ahole 60 in the upper partof the tubular portion 40 ot the spout structure A. Above the hole 60 isan enlarged bore 62 to receive packing 64 and a packingnut 66.

On the spout 44 are upwardly extending ears 68. A pin is mounted in theears 68 and extends between them and a link 72 is pivoted on the pin andextends upwardly the link 72 pivoted as at 76 between its bifurcatedarms 78 at one end and has the upper ends of the arms 56 pivoted as at8O between the arms 82 of its other bifurcated end.

The rocking bar 7 4 has about midway between its ends a vertical bore84, which has substantially the Jform of a venturi with a relativelycontracted waist in the middle and with gradual enlargement of theopening toward both ends.

Received in the opening 84 is a sleeve 85. The stem 28 projects throughthe sleeve 85 and has a screw-threaded end 86 on which are mountedadjustable nuts 88 and 90'below and above the sleeve.

We .will now explain the practical operation and some of the advantagesof vour improved hydrant.

Referring to the valve and valve casing,

it will be noted that weV have provided asingle casing and a singlevalve, so that this portion of the structure is very .simple and cheap.The one casing is connected at-its ends vwith, the supply and ,dischargepipes. It aiiiords drainage means and a valve seat. A single valvecontrols the water inlet and the drainage openings. The parts are soarranged that the interior of the yvalve casing and the outlet pipe fromthe casing are of bar 74 has such relative sizes as to permit the valveto beidrawn from the casing into `the pipe vfor removal, for purposes ofrepair or forreplacement.

By simply unscrewing. the member 40 from the pipe 24, the spoutstructure and the valve may be taken oii.

The structurejfoi;operating the valve stem such as to permit amplemovement. The

parts are so arranged that the valve stem can move vertically withoutbinding. 'The sleeve prevents any bindingfbetweeni the bar 'Z4 andadjustment ofthose nuts allows :torY adjust mentv of the valve withgreat accuracy..

The arrangement ofthe eccentric in conf nection with the handle 54provides for trethe nuts 88 and 90. A very slight n'iendous leverage sothat no ditlicultyis incurred inoperating the valve.' VThe mechanism foroperating the valve is very simple and inexpensive to make and is easyto install or disasseinble.

Changes maybe mad-e in the details of the construction andA arrangement.of the parts oit our improv-ed hydrant, and it is our intention tocover by our claims any modiiied forms oi structure or use of mechanicalequivalents, which may be reasonably in-L eluded within their scope.

lille claim as lour invention:

l, In a' hydrant structure, a valve casing, a valve seat on itsinterior, a valve in the casing for coacting with said seat, a steinextended Jfrom said valveand means for actuating said valve comprising arocking bar pivoted at one end, alink pivoted at one of itsends to theother end of the rocking bar, means for rocking said bar comprising apivotedhandle, an eccentric disk on saidhandle, an opening in the otherend of said Vlink for rotatably receiving said eccentric and means `onsaid stem adapted to be engaged by the rocking arm for closing andopening saidvalve upon swinging movement ofsaid handle.

2. In a hydrant structure, a tubular valve casing having-threadedconnections at its ends with supply anddischarge, pipes and having avalve seat on its interior, a spout structure connected with the discharge pipe, a valve in the casing for coacting with said seat, a stemextended 'from said valve through the discharge pipe, the interior ofthecasing and the discharge pipe `being of such relative sizes that thevalve may be' withdrawn through thefpipe, saidl casinghaving on vitsinterior waterflow grooves in its walls, said stem extending slidablythrough the spout structure, a link pivcted to said spout structure, arocking bar pivoted to said link having an opening through it, said stembeing excasing having threaded connections at its ends with supply anddischarge pipes vand having a valve seat on its interior, a spoutstructure connected with lthe discharge pipe, a valve in the casing forcoacting with said seat, a stem extended from said valve through thedischarge pipe, the interior of the casing and the discharge pipe beingof such relative sizes that the valve may be withdrawn through the pipe,said casing having on its interior waterflow grooves in its walls, saidstem extending slidably through the spout structure, a link pivoted tosaid spout structure, a rocking bar pivoted tov said link having anopening through it, said stem being extended through such'opening, asleeve in the opening on the stem, adjustable nuts adjacent the endsofsaid sleeve, and means for rock-' ing said bar, comprising an arm, aneccentrically mounted disc rotatably mounted in said arm, and a handleon said disc.

' 4. In a hydrant structure, a valve casing, a valve therein, adischarge pipe connected with said casing, a spout structure on saiddischarge pipe, a stem on said valve extended through said pipe andspout structure, a link pivoted to said spout structure, a rocking barpivoted at one end to said link, an arm pivoted to other end of therockingk bar,

a disc eccentrically mounted on the spoutv structure and rotatablymounted in said arm, a handle fixed to said disc, said rocking barhaving a hole extending through it receiving said stem, a sleeve on saidstem in said hole, and adjustablenuts on the stem at the ends end and aspout, a valve slidable in the p casing, a stem extending trom the valveslidable vthrough such closed end, having enlarged portions on its partbeyond the discharge pipe, a rocking arm loosely mounted on said stembetween said enlarged portions, a link pivoted to one end of said armand to a iixed part of the hydrant,a fixed bracket, a disc eccentricallyjournaled on rsaid bracket, a controlling arm for the disc and alinkpivoted' tov the other end of said rocking arm and ournaled on saiddise.

6. In a hydrant structure, a fluid supply pipe, a valve casing connectedtherewith having a valve seat, a discharge pipe communicating with thecasing having a closed end and a spout, a valve slidable in the casing,a stem extending from the valve slidable through such closed end, aVixed bracket, a disc eccentrically journaled on said bracket, acontrolling arm for the disc, a link having an opening to it theperiphery of vsaid disc, and means for operatively connecting said linkwith the valve stein.

Des Moines, Iowa,iFebruary 21, 1927.

THOMAS RITCHIE. ROBERT H. RITCHIE. l

